A/N: So here is the latest chapter. I hope that you guys like it and that you don't hate me for not updating. Thank you for the support and please let me know if you have any ideas, or if you have any comments or reviews to give. You can pm me, review, or comment. Thank you once again. ~ Piper
The next morning I woke up before Rose and I decided to get ready. It wasn't too early because there were a few other people up, but I had at least an hour to relax before Rose woke up. I pulled out my Herbology notes from the day before. I decided I needed to study if I were going to even have a chance at passing Professor Longbottom's class. The moment I opened my notes I remembered all that happened the previous day. I lifted up my shirt and examined my bruises. They weren't very bad because I had been healed the day before, but there were also some old scars from before the school year.
I heard rustling and quickly let go of the end of my shirt and picked up my herbology notes. I would need to copy down some better notes if I was going to learn anything this year.
"Morning Isabella," Rose said, with a smile on her face, "Glad to see I don't have to drag you out of be this morning."
"Haha, very funny," I said, overtly rolling my eyes at her.
We both laughed and joked around as she got ready and I brushed through my hair. I decided to put my hair into a braid that went down and around my shoulder. Once we were both ready we went down to breakfast. We saw Albus and James and a few of their other family members and walked over to sit with them.
"Good morning," Albus mumbled, grinning through the doughnut he was shoving into his face.
"Hey dork," James shoved him playfully, "keep it in your mouth."
We all laughed and Rose and I began to eat. I grabbed a couple of handfuls of raspberries and a piece of toast. As I ate I looked up and saw Malfoy staring at me. I shot my head down and played with my food a little before finishing it. When I looked back up I saw everyone looking at me.
Rose began to open her mouth, but I stopped her. "I'm fine Rose, really I am." I got up and grabbed my books, starting off to class even though I had another half hour before breakfast was over.
"That's not what I was going to say," She began, chasing after me. I turned around, giving her a knowing look. "Okay fine maybe it is what I was going to say, but only because I care about you and I know that something is wrong."
"I just don't open up to people. I'm sorry Rose, but I'm just not ready open up yet. It's only been three days, and I just have to deal with this on my own. I'll be okay."
"How are you okay?" She asked me, "You are right when you say it has only been three days, but I'm not stupid. You don't eat, you have trouble sleeping, and you have scars hidden under your clothing. I'm asking you to let me help because I know you won't reach out to me or anyone for help. I'm letting you know that I am here for you, even if you don't want me to be. You're the sister I've never had, and I don't want to lose you."
"Okay, so I'm not okay. I've had trouble eating for the past couple of years now, I can't ever sleep because my I'm afraid my brother is going to hurt me there, and I have scars from when my brother has hurt me," I said on the verge of tears, "I have trust issues because no one around me seemed to care until you and your family came along. I'm afraid that I'm going to end up losing you guys too."
"We are your family, and family never stops caring. You will never lose us," she said, pulling me in for a hug, "We will always protect you."
"Thank you. I won't forget what you and your family are doing for me."
"That's what friends are for."
On that note, I reached up and dried my tears. As we walked to transfiguration, I told myself that everything would be fine, and that with my new found family I would never have to deal with at least my brother ever again. Of course things are never as good as we think, are they?